Local News

Rabid horse put down in Logan County

Health department also finds rabid skunk in Peetz

The Northeast Colorado Health Department has issued a map that shows where rabid animals have been located since the beginning of the year. The map is updated weekly and is available from the NCHD website, www.nchd.org. (Courtesy photo)

A Logan County horse has been euthanized and tested positive for rabies, the Colorado Department of Agriculture announced Monday.

The department is encouraging livestock and pet owners to discuss animal health concerns, including the need for rabies vaccination, with their local veterinarian after the test results confirmed the disease.

"The department would like to stress two very important points," said State Veterinarian, Dr. Keith Roehr. "One — owners should monitor their animals for clinical signs of rabies; and two — local veterinarians are a valuable resource to help producers decide the best course of action to protect their livestock and pets from rabies."

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Livestock and pet owners are encouraged to discuss vaccination with their veterinarian for animals that could be exposed to wildlife that carry and could transmit the rabies virus to dogs, cats, horses, small ruminants, llamas, alpacas, and petting zoo animals.

Also on Monday, the Northeast Colorado Health Department announced that a skunk inside Peetz town limits has tested positive for rabies. The skunk, which was found on April 17, was observed inside a dog run in town. The dog, which had been sprayed by the skunk, had previously been vaccinated, will receive two boosters, and was placed on 90-day home quarantine. The test results on the skunk came back the same day as the rabid horse, which was also from the Peetz area.

This is the latest of several skunks to be discovered in populated areas in northeast Colorado since the beginning of the year.

"The fact that we're seeing rabid animals in populated areas presents an increased threat to public health," said Dr. Tony Cappello, NCHD's public health director. "Anytime a disease enters an area with a larger population there is a significant increase in the possibility of human exposure."

Rabies is a viral disease infecting the brain and central nervous system. The clinical appearance of rabies typically falls into two types: "aggressive" and "dumb." Aggressive rabies symptoms include combativeness and violent behavior and sensitivity to touch and other kinds of stimulation. There is also a "dumb" form of the disease in which the animal is lethargic, weak in one or more limbs, and unable to raise its head or make sounds because its throat and neck muscles are paralyzed.

Rabies can be passed from animals to humans. Rabies is spread primarily through the bite of rabid animals, resulting in the spread of the disease through their infected saliva. Rabies also can be spread when saliva from an infected animal gets into open wounds, cuts or enters through membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth. No cure exists for rabies once symptoms appear although there is a vaccine to prevent the infection.

According to Dr. Cappello there has been a big increase in the number of rabid skunks since the beginning of the year. With that kind of an increase, the worry is the virus will cross over into other species, including foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and especially feral cats.

"A rabies vaccination for your pets offers the best protection and is easy and affordable to obtain from your veterinarian," said Dr. Cappello. "This is a very logical alternative to a family member having to receive post-exposure prophylaxis which is quite expensive and involves a series shots."

Dr. Cappello stressed that in order for a rabies vaccination to be recognized under state statute, it must be administered by a licensed veterinarian. Vaccinations given by pet owners are not considered adequate if there is a suspected or confirmed rabies exposure. The recommended course of action for non-vaccinated pets in this instance is euthanasia.

If you witness a suspected rabid skunk or other wild animal contact the sherrif's office or local police in your area. To prevent possible exposure to rabies, health experts warn residents to keep their pets' vaccinations up-to-date; leave wildlife alone, do not take in stray animals, especially feral cats, and if they suspect a family member or pet has been bitten or scratched, contact a medical provider or local veterinarian immediately.

"Animal owners need to primarily look for any dramatic behavioral changes. That is typically one of the hallmark signs that the animal may be suffering from rabies," said Roehr.

Examples of unusual behavior include: wild mammals that show no fear of people and pets; nocturnal animals that are active in daylight; and bats found on the ground, in swimming pools or that have been caught by a pet. Rabid carnivores, such as skunks, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, dogs and cats, may become aggressive and may attempt to bite people, pets and livestock.

For more information on rabies contact NCHD at (970) 522-3741, or visit nchd.org. For information on rabies vaccinations, contact your local veterinarian.

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